This call seeks to support rigorous causal research on:

• How regulatory, financial, fiscal, and labor reforms affect women and men differently; and
• How policy instruments can improve economic opportunities and reduce those differences.

Only proposals that analyze one or more of the 26 IDB borrowing member countries will be considered. Proposals must apply rigorous quantitative methods capable of establishing causal relationships, including structural models, experimental, or quasi-experimental designs. Qualitative components will be considered only to the extent that they support the implementation of the quantitative analysis. Proposals that generate actionable recommendations for governments, the private sector, and multilateral organizations are especially encouraged. Selected studies will undergo external peer review and may be considered for publication in the IDB Working Paper Series. Publication in academic journals is also encouraged. Additional information on eligibility requirements and the application process is available in the brochure

This call invites research proposals in one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Regulatory Simplification and Digital Government
• Financial Regulation and Access to Credit and Formal Markets
• Tax Design and Economic Participation
• Labor Regulation and Formal Employment

Proposals may also examine the differential effects of these reforms on Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and persons with disabilities, provided they align with the objectives and methodological requirements of the call.

Detailed descriptions of each thematic area are available in the brochure.

This call is open to independent researchers and research teams affiliated with public or private institutions, universities, or research centers. Applicants must be citizens of one of the 48 IDB member countries and must not have immediate family members employed by the IDB Group up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity, including spouses.

IDB Group specialists may participate as members of external research teams but are not eligible to receive financial compensation. Funding will be transferred exclusively to the external institution or principal investigator leading the project.

Applicants may apply under one of two funding categories:

• Category I: Quantitative diagnoses that establish causal relationships, with funding of up to $20 thousand.
• Category II: Pilot interventions, with funding of up to $100 thousand.

Detailed information on eligible expenses, payment schedules, and project duration is available in the brochure.

Proposals will be evaluated by a Scientific Committee composed of IDB Group specialists and external advisors. The external advisors for this call are Lori Beaman (Northwestern University) and Guillermo Cruces (Universidad de San Andrés and University of Nottingham).

The Committee will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:

• Thematic Relevance
• Policy Relevance and Innovation
• Methodological Rigor
• Team Capacity and Implementation
• Scalability and Replicability

The decisions of the Scientific Committee will be final and unappealable. Detailed information on the evaluation criteria is available in the brochure.

Applications must be submitted through the Oxford Abstracts platform. A free Oxford Abstracts account is required to submit a proposal.

Research teams must complete the online application form in English and upload all required supporting documents. Applications submitted by email or outside the Oxford Abstracts platform will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted by September 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET, noon. Applications outside this deadline will not be considered.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals well before the deadline. GDLab is not responsible for technical difficulties encountered near the submission deadline.

Shortlisted teams will be invited to participate in a revise-and-resubmit phase in October 2026. Final results will be announced in November 2026.

Due to the expected volume of submissions, feedback will be provided only to shortlisted teams.

For questions regarding the call, please contact [email protected]. To ensure a fair and transparent selection process, applicants should not contact members of the Scientific Committee directly regarding the call or the evaluation process.